CNN Transcript - World Report: Polygamy Flourishes in Swaziland, Africa

World Report

Polygamy Flourishes in Swaziland, Africa

Aired December 24, 2000 - 2:03 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

RALPH WENGE, CNN ANCHOR: One of the most universal and fundamental social customs is that of marriage. Most countries allow men and women to have only one spouse at a time, but in some places polygamy still flourishes. In the tiny African country of Swaziland, a young king is firmly maintaining the national identity by continuing all of its longstanding customs.

South African Broadcasting Corporation traveled to Swaziland to report on the seven wives of King Mswati III.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MPHO MOAGI, SABC REPORTER (voice-over): Swaziland, a country between Mozambique and South Africa. In this tiny kingdom, polygamy is widely practiced; even by the king, Mswati III.

He is the country's head of state and, at the he age of 32, he already has seven wives. Once a year in September, young girls come together to pay homage to the king and to celebrate their virginity. This event is known as Nsanga (ph) dance; it's one of the oldest traditions in Swaziland. Legend has it that this is where King Mswati III chooses his wives.

KING MSWATI III, SWAZILAND: It's not as if that's where the king normally gets his wife's or so.

MOAGI: This year, the king's fiancee still takes part in the dance. She'll only marry the king once she's conceived. She'll then be wife No. 8.

She will have to learn to share her husband; something the other seven wives said you find a way to deal with.

QUEEN GCINIPHA NGANGAZA: Coming from a monogamous family I think, at first it was something new. It was definitely something new to me; but because I knew when I arrived that the king already had three wives -- four, in fact -- four wives ahead of me; so I knew what the situation was.

QUEEN SIGONELO MBIKIZA: At first, you know, the wives may have need that obligation to have to do what you expect them to do, you know. But, as time goes on, you grow mature and you realize what makes you happy and what makes you unhappy. QUEEN DELIFA MAGWAZA: Maybe sometimes we do have small differences but, you know, at the end of the day you have to, you know, reconcile, you know, because now and again we have to meet for certain occasions.

MBIKIZA: For myself, I like to standards for myself. I like to tell myself, OK, I want to achieve this; not because I've seen somebody else who has, but because I want to.

MAGWAZA: At first it was hard; I must admit it was hard. But I guess, with experience and maturity I've learned, you know, to be able to cope.

NGANGAZA: All I can say is that I'm content. Ten years ago I wasn't -- I wouldn't have the same thoughts, but now it's life. To me it's life and I've accepted it. And I think I am very comfortable the way I am living.

MOAGI (on camera): A lot of people over the world might think polygamy is unfair; but for the seven wives of King Mswati III, it seems to be working.

This is Mpho Moagi, SABC, in Swaziland for CNN WORLD REPORT.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN ANCHOR: One religion that allows polygamy is Islam. As one of the fastest growing religions in the world, many argue that it is also one of the least understood by the Western World. But Islam is gaining popularity in the West; Egypt's Nile Television traveled to the Persian Gulf region, where some Americans have found answers in Islam's universal message.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAMI ZAIDEN, NILE TV REPORTER (voice-over): Clashes between the United States and Moslem countries seem to vindicate proponents of an inevitable clash of civilizations between the two.

(on camera): But while the images of violence we see on our TV screens are very real, some say they are not the whole story. It is argued that we, the media, just don't focus on other examples of harmonious contact between Islam and the West.

(voice-over): Across the creek in the gulf state of the United Arab Emirates, life continues peacefully, as it has, perhaps, for thousands of years.

Moslems converse over tea, an often unusual sight; but these Moslems are not Arabs. In fact, they are all Westerners; Westerners who say there is nothing odd in mixing East with West.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Christianity is also Eastern. Jesus was not an Irishman or an American, he came from Palestine. So the monotheist religion comes from the East. ZAIDEN: Duval (ph) left the comfortable life in the U.S. seven years ago to dedicate himself to helping the poor. He collects donations in the UAE to build hospitals and schools in Africa and Asia.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This work is the real work to me, because we are free people and taking care of people that cannot take care of themselves, they cannot treat themselves; and no one is really showing any true concern for them.

ZAIDEN: But perhaps no one knows Western-Arab interaction better than Imah (ph), an American married to a Sudanese national.

Imah has come a long way from his native Florida. The burning question we wanted answered was whether an ex-beach boy can still surf in the Arabian Peninsula.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No; no surfing, but I do skin dive, scuba or snorkeling.

ZAIDEN: Imah never planned to study Islam until he stumbled across its holy book.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a coincidence. I just found a translation of the Koran and I thought I would pick it up and read it. I began to see Islam teaching the people that we should become united, regardless of race, color -- we should all come together under the worship of one God.

ZAIDEN: Although the U.S. and Sudan are in conflict, Imah says his children won't have to choose between two conflicting parental identities. Religion, he says, has transcended the boundaries of race.

Sami Zaiden, Nile TV, for the CNN WORLD REPORT.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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